Me

Sunday Leg Day

I don’t know what the weather is like where you’re at, but it’s about to get REALLY cold down here in the South. Having just come from spending the holidays in Arizona (where the average temperature was in the mid 70’s) I was sad to find that I landed in a freezing Memphis with 32 degrees, and promises of snow on Sunday.

Yeck.

So before the weather got TOO crazy I suited up and headed to the gym for my Sunday Leg Day routine. Even as I change my workouts for my goals one thing has always stayed the same: Sunday is for legs.

As such, I wore my leg day shirt!

Since I am a busy vet student I don’t often have days to myself. I spend my weekdays at school from 6/7 am – 5/6 pm. In the morning I’m pressed for time (unless I want to wake up at 3am) and at night I don’t want to spend hours rushing through sets so I can get home and eat before 10pm. Saturdays are filled with patient care, discharging patients, grocery shopping, catching up on things I’ve missed during the week, and other such busy endeavors. But Sundays? Sundays are empty in the gym due to church and football and without much going on (usually) I can spend all the time I want resting during squats, adding a fun new move, walking on the treadmill with an incline, etc. Really, Sundays are for worship (or something) and there’s no greater worship than doing something you love.

Today’s workout included…

January 5, 2014 Exercises, Me, , Read more >

Where have you BEEN?

I know, I know, it’s been awhile since you’ve heard from me. My life, like the lives of all 20-something year olds in professional school, has been one crazy thing after another.

First, in February, I competed in my first powerlifting competition! During which I set 4 state records and came in as the second female overall, barely losing to the overall female by 2 points.

Second, I finished my second year of veterinary school. The last month (well, weeks really) marked a lot of huge changes in my life. I lost a classmate and friend during finals week and found myself single for the first time in two years. These two events together made me realize that life is too short and too beautiful for negativity. Instead of being angry at how I was treated, I decided to use that energy for positivity. That brings me to…

Third, I competed in powerlifting AGAIN and smashed my previous lift numbers in April. I set 4 more state records and made a lot of friends. Around this time I decided to try something new. I do love powerlifting, but I’ve always wanted to step on stage in a bikini and show off all my hard work. So, you guessed it…

Fourth – I’m competing in figure! My competition is mid August and I’ve been working with a coach for my nutrition, while still doing some serious powerlifting for my workouts. I know I’ll return to powerlifting (I miss Poptarts and cake daily) but for now this a fun foray into an aspect of fitness I’ve never experienced before.

This summer I’m working at an emergency clinic to get some more experience before I start clinical rotations in July. Look for more content this summer, from articles on fasted cardio to check ins as I embark on my first figure competition. Yes, this is a science blog, but first and foremost it’s my blog. Get ready to see my face a lot!

May 30, 2013 Me, , , , Read more >

Who Am I?

Some of you have been following this blog for a few months, some for a few days, and some of you for the entire year it’s been up. In all this time I never formally introduced myself, and for good reason. I wanted this blog to be entirely about the science of weight loss and fitness – not a personal blog. I wanted to share information in an easy manner without the clutter of day to day stuff no one really cares about. I carried on this way until a few weeks ago, when I read a blog similar to mine. “This is great…but why should I trust this person? Who ARE they?”

Oh.

So, let me introduce myself and start off the new year with a resolution for my blog: to let you get to know me. This blog will be still about 90% science and articles but you’ll get little updates from me here and there about my training, my passions, or maybe just a random personal post.

mesmall

My name is Courtney and I’m a 20-something year old veterinary student. My interests include powerlifting, yoga, blogging, animals, eating and hiking. I started this blog on a more personal platform – Tumblr – because of some issues I had with food. I spent a lot of my young life troubled with food and unable to make peace with my body image issues. Instead of eliminating the problem (the toxic environment I created to continue my bad habits) I faulted myself instead. Tumblr gave me a place to explore this and, eventually, leave these thoughts behind. During this time I also started to research into topics that interested me: was my metabolism forever destroyed by years of yo-yo dieting and fasting? What SHOULD I be eating? How much?

To my surprise I found story after story telling two different sides of every story. I was more confused than ever, which lead me to pull up scientific articles and papers about these issues instead of popular magazines and websites. Here I found the “truth” of fitness, exercise and weight loss – and man did they differ from what I’d been told my whole life! In an attempt to help others receive a more balanced outlook I started to write articles that people my age would identify with. I found great solace in the fact that I didn’t need to eat 7 times a day, or that I didn’t have to spend one more second on the treadmill. I figured that there were people out there just like me who would benefit from this information.

So, Barbells and Beakers was born.

Me after the Spartan Sprint in Gulfport, MS

Me after the Spartan Sprint in Gulfport, MS

As you can see, nowhere above does it say “I am a nutritionist, personal trainer, etc.” I am a veterinary student. I only offer my unique knowledge of anatomy and physiology and my ability to understand science. I give only my personal experiences and opinions in hopes to help others. I will never create a diet, exercise plan, or recommend any one type of eating to anyone. If anything, you’ll hear my most popular saying: “Do what works for you and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

January 6, 2013 Me Read more >